Funeral Aug. 10 for longtime Yamhill police chief

YAMHILL -- Longtime police Chief Gordon Rise died of natural causes early this morning at his home. He was 64.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, in the Yamhill-Carlton High School gym under the direction of Macy & Son.

Mayor Paula Terp has appointed Greg Graven, another longtime Yamhill police officer, as the interim chief.

Terp said she and other residents are shocked and saddened to lose Rise.

"He's been a great chief for a small town. He was always there to help, always very willing, " she said. "We're going to miss him."

In honor of Rise, Yamhill City Hall will lower its flag to half staff through Sunday.

His 26 year tenure as Yamhill's police chief was by far the longest run of any local police chief and one of the longest in the state.

Terp said people had often kidded Rise about his reluctance to retire or even take a vacation. But in recent months, she said, he had finally started talking about retiring.

Many friends and Yamhill residents took to Facebook to mourn Rise. Law enforcement officials also noted his death.

Yamhill County Sheriff Jack Crabtree said he has worked with Rise for nearly three decades. "I will for sure miss him," Crabtree said. "The citizens of Yamhill will certainly feel a huge loss with his passing."

The sheriff added that the YCSO will "do whatever we can to assist the family during this time of loss."